Henry VIII and his issue die in 1547.

So, this thread here: https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/mary-i-of-scots-ii-of-england.413481/ got me thinking, what might the consequences be if in 1546, whilst Henry VIII is away in France, Elizabeth and Mary both die from perhaps the sweating sickness, and then in 1547, Edward dies from any number of ailments. Henry would most likely return from France at this point, and perhaps as with Isabella of Castile forty years before, the grief from losing so many kids, and his own poor health finally gets him. However, whilst he is on his death bed, without any of his own issue surviving. who does he decide succeeds him? His sister Mary's descendants in the person of Frances Grey Duchess of Suffolk, or his sister Margaret's descendants?

If he goes with Frances, does this lead to a breach within England itself, and potential civil war? What does this do for the religious situation in England as well?
 
I have a sneaking suspicion that Margaret Douglas might try and marry her son off to Jane Grey, to get her blood on the throne. Whilst Mary Stuart, might well be kept within Scotland as insurance for peace?
 
I personally could see the English government going with Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley. Having been born in 1545, at Temple Newsam, Leeds, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, he would be seen as an English born-Scot.

Lord Darnley was well educated and brought up conscious of his status and inheritance. He became well-versed in Latin and grew up familiar with Gaelic, English and French. He excelled in singing, lute playing, and dancing.

His reign as King Henry IX of house Stewart of Darnley and as you stated Margaret Douglass would want him to cement his tie to the English throne, however I would go with Lady Mary Grey, the youngest daughter of Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk, and Frances Brandon, as a better match, due to similar ages, while Jane is a whole 7 years older.
 
I personally could see the English government going with Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley. Having been born in 1545, at Temple Newsam, Leeds, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, he would be seen as an English born-Scot.

Lord Darnley was well educated and brought up conscious of his status and inheritance. He became well-versed in Latin and grew up familiar with Gaelic, English and French. He excelled in singing, lute playing, and dancing.

His reign as King Henry IX of house Stewart of Darnley and as you stated Margaret Douglass would want him to cement his tie to the English throne, however I would go with Lady Mary Grey, the youngest daughter of Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk, and Frances Brandon, as a better match, due to similar ages, while Jane is a whole 7 years older.

Hmm this is interesting, but would this not go against the various Succession Acts that Henry had had Parliament lay out, to ensure a smooth succession and to prevent his sister Margaret's descendants from coming to the throne? Though I suppose, once the man's dead, unless he names an heir, they'd likely want to go with primogenture, or some form of it.
 
Having read through something to do with Henry's last will and testament and the fact that otl he died in 25th January, 1547, I imagine then that his kids would need to die in the weeks or days before him.
 
Well Henry could legally name anyone in his will if he so wished - we know that he opted to name his children in order and then the descendants of his sister Mary to the exclusion of Margaret's line - his options in this scenario are Frances Grey Marchioness of Dorset (daughter of his sister and his only real friend) or Mary Stuart Queen of Scots (the granddaughter of his sister Margaret) or Margaret Countess of Lennox (the daughter of his sister Margaret who was living in England with her Scots husband) - not ideal for a man who spent most of his adult life striving to produce on heir male.
Or he excludes all women in the succession in preference of naming his two-year-old great nephew Henry Stuart Lord Darnley (who by primogeniture was third in line) - personally its a toss up though i think he will slightly favour Frances over Margaret or her son. But the fact there is a boy around complicates matters and to be honest with his children gone most of Europe will believe Mary of Scots is the legal heir in these circumstances - she hasn't yet sailed for France so she isn't yet in the clutches of the French King.
 
IOTL when Henry VIII's died, on 28 January 1547, the line of succession was governed by the Third Succession Act (1543) :
  1. Prince Edward (b. 1537), only legitimate son of Henry VIII
  2. Lady Mary (b. 1516), elder daughter of Henry VIII
  3. Lady Elizabeth (b. 1533), younger daughter of Henry VIII
    Descendants of Henry's elder sister Margaret, Queen of Scots were excluded by Henry's will:Frances Grey, daughter of Mary Tudor, was excluded by Henry's will, but her heirs of the body were included.
  4. Lady Jane Grey (b. 1536/7), Frances Grey's eldest daughter (later briefly queen regnant)
  5. Lady Catherine Grey (b. 1540), Frances Grey's second daughter
  6. Lady Mary Grey (b. 1545), Frances Grey's third daughter
    Eleanor Clifford, Countess of Cumberland (b. 1519), Frances Grey's sister was also excluded by Henry's will:
  7. Lady Margaret Clifford (b. 1540), Eleanor Clifford's daughter
but with the all his own legitimate children dead,
 
Alright very interesting, so would it take a succession war to sort matters out, as I think some of his courtiers and councillors might take matters into their own hands once the King is dead.
 
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